If you’ve ever wanted to hug an elephant, today’s the day — March 3 is the very first World Wildlife Day designated by the UN ito try to thwart the illegal global trafficking in wildlife.

Especially at risk? Elephants, for their ivory. But countless other species face a dire future — including extinction — from human poaching fueled by sheer greed.

“While governments have a key role to play, we as citizens of countries across the globe have a vital role to play in shutting down the markets that sustain this illegal trade which threatens the survival of iconic species such as elephants and rhinos, but also of other threatened animal and plant species,” UN Under-Secretary Achim Steiner told EcoNews.

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated at $19 billion a year, making it fourth in the world behind drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking.